Michael
Gilda is depressed and anxious and can’t stop thinking about death. She responds to a flyer from a local Catholic church about therapy, but Father Jeff thinks she is there for a job, and Gilda is too embarrassed to tell him otherwise, although she is a lesbian and an atheist. So begins her masquerade as a heterosexual Roman Catholic. There is also a sub-plot, or is it the main plot, about the death of the previous church secretary.
This is a very funny premise and there were times when I laughed out loud, but generally, I didn’t connect with this book. I didn’t like Gilda. We are told that she is a “lesbian and an atheist” over and over again. A couple of times was enough. I understand rumination and anxiety, but this is a novel, not a case study. I thought Eleanor was a fool for staying with her, Father Jeff was nice but not very consequential, Barney and Giuseppe seemed to be well-meaning at times and at others odious. Her parents are clueless. I liked her brother Eli, and I would have liked to know more about him, but he hardly figures in the story.
(I guess you will have to read to book to find out who these characters are-no spoilers here).
The ending was hopeful, but it didn’t really fit with the rest of the book. So, while I liked the premise, and some of the scenes were funny, and some lines were very quotable, this one just wasn’t for me, at least not right now. Maybe later it will sit better
Gilda is depressed and anxious and can’t stop thinking about death. She responds to a flyer from a local Catholic church about therapy, but Father Jeff thinks she is there for a job, and Gilda is too embarrassed to tell him otherwise, although she is a lesbian and an atheist. So begins her masquerade as a heterosexual Roman Catholic. There is also a sub-plot, or is it the main plot, about the death of the previous church secretary.
This is a very funny premise and there were times when I laughed out loud, but generally, I didn’t connect with this book. I didn’t like Gilda. We are told that she is a “lesbian and an atheist” over and over again. A couple of times was enough. I understand rumination and anxiety, but this is a novel, not a case study. I thought Eleanor was a fool for staying with her, Father Jeff was nice but not very consequential, Barney and Giuseppe seemed to be well-meaning at times and at others odious. Her parents are clueless. I liked her brother Eli, and I would have liked to know more about him, but he hardly figures in the story.
(I guess you will have to read to book to find out who these characters are-no spoilers here).
The ending was hopeful, but it didn’t really fit with the rest of the book. So, while I liked the premise, and some of the scenes were funny, and some lines were very quotable, this one just wasn’t for me, at least not right now. Maybe later it will sit better